Recreation Grants

The GO Laurel Highlands is offering a tourism grant ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for marketing, enhancement of attractions, and special events aimed at increasing visitation and economic activity in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, with applications to be submitted by October 4, 2024.

The Seybert Foundation Innovation Grants Program offers grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 to Philadelphia-based nonprofits serving youth, to fund innovative projects in areas such as education reform, youth advocacy, and workforce development, with a focus on testing new approaches or pursuing opportunities for significant change.

The Water Wise Garden Grant, a collaborative effort between Hunter Industries and KidsGardening, aims to support public and charter schools in San Diego County. This initiative aligns with the broader mission of promoting water conservation, water stewardship, and responsible water management through the engaging medium of gardening. By fostering an understanding of these critical environmental concepts at an early age, the grant contributes to the development of environmentally conscious citizens and resilient communities. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are public and charter elementary schools within San Diego County that serve at least 15 youth. The program specifically targets organizations that support, work with, or serve communities with a majority of under-resourced individuals, defined as those systematically denied resources and opportunities based on factors like race, gender, ethnicity, income level, abilities, or geographic location, or those currently experiencing hardship. The overarching impact goal is to dramatically expand learning opportunities for program participants and to ensure the intended impact reflects the needs of the community, particularly in areas where resources are limited. Funding priorities for the Water Wise Garden Grant are based on demonstrated need and program impact. KidsGardening prioritizes organizations affected by multiple socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors, as well as those with limited access to consistent and substantial monetary support or prior grant funding. Furthermore, organizations working with greater than 50 youth are given priority, indicating a focus on maximizing reach and educational impact. The grant also emphasizes the importance of using funds to install new or improve existing youth gardens, ensuring tangible and sustainable educational environments. The expected outcomes include enhanced learning opportunities for students regarding water conservation and sustainable gardening practices. Measurable results for 2025 will see five elementary schools in San Diego County each awarded $1,000 in funding, coupled with an irrigation supply kit valued at $500. This combination of financial support and practical resources is designed to facilitate the creation or enhancement of gardens that serve as living classrooms, fostering hands-on learning and practical application of water-wise principles. The theory of change underpinning this grant posits that by investing in youth garden programs within under-resourced communities, children will develop a deeper appreciation for environmental sustainability and become advocates for responsible water management.

This award recognizes individuals in the Madison community who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and volunteerism in promoting peace and cooperation among diverse populations.

The City of Walla Walla’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program aims to expand opportunities for low- and moderate-income citizens within the City of Walla Walla. This program aligns with a mission to improve community well-being through various initiatives. The funding amount is approximately $58,000, with individual grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, and a grant duration of one year. The 2025-2026 Program Year will run from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026. The deadline for applications is September 6, 2024. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant program are low- and moderate-income persons residing in the City of Walla Walla. The program's impact goals are focused on addressing critical community needs in housing, public services, public facilities, neighborhood improvements, and economic development. All projects and programs funded through this grant must principally benefit these individuals. The program prioritizes a range of eligible activities designed to achieve its goals. These include housing rehabilitation, acquisition of real property, demolition, and utilities for housing projects. It also supports the construction, reconstruction, or installation of public facilities and infrastructure, such as parks, playgrounds, streets, sidewalks, and public buildings (excluding those for general government conduct). Furthermore, the grant focuses on public services like mental healthcare, substance abuse treatment, health care, childcare, transportation, youth programs, employment assistance, crime prevention, and fair housing counseling. Expected outcomes include improved living conditions through housing initiatives, enhanced public spaces and infrastructure, and increased access to vital public services for low- and moderate-income residents. The measurable results will be evaluated by the direct impact of these projects and programs on the target population, ensuring they meet a National Objective of serving low- and moderate-income individuals or areas. The foundation's strategic priority is to foster a more equitable and supportive community in Walla Walla, operating under the theory of change that by investing in these key areas, the overall quality of life and opportunities for vulnerable populations will significantly improve. Eligibility criteria for the CDBG program extend to nonprofits, for-profits, and government entities. Applicants must demonstrate that their proposed activities meet a National Objective, which specifically means serving low- and moderate-income individuals or areas. Additionally, the activities themselves must be eligible under CDBG guidelines. For more comprehensive information, interested parties are encouraged to visit the City of Walla Walla’s official website.

The Granville Community Foundation in Ohio is offering grants to non-profit organizations and public agencies for projects that enrich the lives of Granville residents, with a focus on arts, culture, education, and social services, and prioritizes initiatives that enhance quality of life, cultural opportunities, historical preservation, social support, public spaces, and youth experiences.

The Central Indiana Community Foundation invites applicants for the Summer Youth Program Fund, a grant supporting free or low-cost enrichment programs for Marion County youth, with funds potentially used for staffing, program materials, meals, scholarships, and modest capital equipment purchases, open to tax-exempt organizations or those with a fiscal sponsor.

The Town of Matthews Tourism Grant Program offers financial assistance to organizations that host events or programs aimed at boosting visitation and tourism within Matthews. This initiative directly aligns with the town's mission to enhance local economic activity and showcase Matthews as a desirable destination. The grant is specifically funded by tourism-related taxes, including hotel occupancy, prepared food and beverage, and car rental taxes, ensuring that the program's funding mechanism is directly tied to its mission of promoting tourism. The primary beneficiaries of this program are non-profit organizations capable of delivering events or programs that effectively attract visitors to Matthews. The overarching impact goal is to increase tourism and visitation, which in turn supports local businesses and generates revenue for the town. The program prioritizes projects with short-term and/or long-term potential for attracting visitors, ensuring a sustainable impact on the town's tourism landscape. Key focuses for successful applications include demonstrating a clear goal of promoting tourism and visitation to Matthews, as well as outlining how the proposed program will achieve this. Eligibility criteria emphasize that organizations must hold current non-profit status and that their programs must take place between July 1, 2024, and June 13, 2025. This timeframe allows for the support of both upcoming and recently concluded initiatives that meet the program's objectives. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of visitors to Matthews and the successful execution of tourism-promoting events and programs. Measurable results will be assessed through mandatory post-project reports submitted by grant recipients. These reports will likely detail attendance, visitor origin, economic impact, and other relevant metrics, providing data to evaluate the program's effectiveness. Any unspent grant funding must be returned by June 30, 2025, ensuring accountability and efficient use of public funds. The program’s strategic priority is to leverage local events and programs as catalysts for sustained tourism growth, aligning with a theory of change where targeted financial support for tourism initiatives directly translates into increased visitor numbers and economic benefits for the community.

This grant provides federal funding to local agencies, tribes, and nonprofits in Washington to rehabilitate and maintain recreational trails for various outdoor activities, ensuring a sustainable backcountry experience.

This grant provides funding to various organizations in Washington State to create outdoor education and recreation opportunities for underserved and historically excluded youth.

This funding opportunity provides financial assistance to nonprofit organizations, schools, and community groups to help children under 18 participate in sports and extracurricular activities, ensuring access for those with financial need.

The San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, a regional government agency, allocates funds for restoring and enhancing wetland and wildlife habitats along the San Francisco Bay shoreline. Grants exceeding $1 million are available for projects lasting up to five years, with a deadline of September 20, 2024. Eligible projects must be located within the nine Bay Area counties—Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma—and align with priorities outlined in Measure AA. These priorities include maximizing positive environmental impacts, ensuring geographic distribution, leveraging additional resources, and benefiting economically disadvantaged communities. The Authority funds various project phases, including planning, construction, and scientific studies, provided they support habitat restoration, flood management, or public access initiatives. Projects must meet specific criteria related to improving water quality, enhancing wildlife habitats, providing flood protection, and improving public access. Eligible applicants include federal, state, and local agencies, tribal governments, nonprofits, and shoreline parcel owners in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information, visit the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority website.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to non-profits, schools, churches, and government organizations in Jones County to enhance community well-being through projects focused on education, economic development, food security, and healthcare access.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations, including cities, counties, and nonprofit shooting groups, for the acquisition, development, and renovation of firearm and archery training facilities to improve public access and safety.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in central Oklahoma that provide services to help older adults maintain their independence and well-being while living in their homes and communities.

The Community Foundation's Impact Grant program offers broad support for various purposes, including field of interest and special purpose funds, as well as assistance for individuals served by nonprofits or government agencies. This program aligns with the foundation's mission to address diverse community needs within Frederick County, Maryland, by providing flexible funding to a wide array of organizations. The target beneficiaries for these grants are the residents of Frederick County, Maryland, who benefit directly from the programs and services offered by eligible organizations. The impact goals are to improve various sectors including health and human services, historic preservation, the arts, agriculture, civic causes, animal well-being, education, and youth programs. By supporting these areas, the foundation aims to foster a stronger, more vibrant, and healthier community. The program prioritizes organizations that demonstrate a direct benefit to Frederick County. Eligible applicants include existing 501c3 nonprofit organizations, government/quasi-governmental agencies seeking funding for extraordinary projects not covered by tax revenue, religious organizations requesting support for non-sectarian activities, and civic groups that are not 501c3s but are working on community causes. The minimum grant request is $500, with grants typically being less than $1000 and lasting for a one-year duration. Expected outcomes include enhanced service delivery in critical areas, preservation of cultural assets, promotion of civic engagement, and improved well-being for individuals and animals in Frederick County. The foundation's strategic priorities are to provide accessible funding that supports a broad spectrum of community needs, ensuring that a diverse range of organizations can access resources to implement impactful programs. This approach reflects a theory of change where strategic investments in key community areas, through diverse and capable organizations, lead to significant and lasting positive change for the residents of Frederick County. Grants must be used between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025.

Howard County’s Youth Engagement Programming (YEP!) Grants aim to foster youth activities and engagement within Howard County by supporting free, accessible, and supportive programming developed by nonprofit and community organizations. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission to empower community organizations with resources to create impactful programs for young people, particularly during non-school hours. The grant's strategic priority is to enhance youth well-being and development through structured engagement, reflecting a theory of change that posits increased access to supportive out-of-school programs leads to improved social-emotional learning, mental health, and overall youth development. The primary target beneficiaries of the YEP! Grants are young people in Howard County. The program's impact goals include providing community organizations with the means to develop and expand programs that focus on social-emotional learning, mental health and wellness, and general activities for youth. By offering these programs outside of traditional school hours, the grants seek to address critical periods when young people may most benefit from engagement and support, thereby contributing to their holistic development and reducing potential negative outcomes associated with unstructured free time. The grants prioritize programming that occurs at least monthly over a 12-month period, engaging youth during weekends, after-school hours, and the summer. A key focus is on ensuring programs are either free or low-cost, with proposals needing to demonstrate how cost barriers are minimized for participants. Additionally, proposals are encouraged to leverage partnerships with other community organizations in Howard County, fostering a collaborative approach to youth development and maximizing resource utilization across the community. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of young people served by engaging activities, a broader geographic impact of programs within Howard County, and successful engagement of youth across various age groups. Grant recipients are required to track performance data, including the number of young people served, geographic reach, and age of youth served, and submit quarterly reports to the Office of the County Executive. This rigorous reporting mechanism ensures accountability and provides measurable results, allowing the Howard County Government to assess the effectiveness of the YEP! grants in achieving their objectives and continually refine their strategic approach to youth engagement.

This funding opportunity provides up to $5,000 for nonprofit organizations and government entities to implement projects that enhance parks, recreation, and arts and culture in the greater Virginia area.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities in specific Minnesota and Wisconsin communities to enhance youth education and promote health and fitness initiatives.

The 2024 Parks, Fields, Trails Grant, funded by the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority, offers $10,000 to $100,000 for capital projects that improve public parks, athletic fields, and trails in Erie County, Pennsylvania, aiming to promote healthy lifestyles, enhance local tourism, and rejuvenate neighborhoods, with a focus on projects that provide social, educational, cultural, health, recreation, and/or economic benefits to residents.